Gas economizer



Dec. 18, 1928.

1,695,848 J. J. HIGGINS GA'S ECONOMIZER Filed NOV. 1, 1924 FIGJ F|G.2.

INVENTOR JOHN J. HlGGlNS ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 18, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,695,848 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN JOSEPH HIGGINS, OF EAST ORANGE, -NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING-HOUSE LAMP COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ens nconomzna.

Application filed November 1, 1924. Serial No. 747,263.

This invention relates to fluid fuel feeding apparatus as used inconnection with the man'ifacture of incandescent electric lamps and theinvention more particularly relates to an economizer for use with suchapparatus.

An object of the invention is to provide a device operable to preventunnecessary consumption of fuel.

Another object of the invention is to provide an automatic mechanism forcontrolling the discharge of fuel. r

A further ob 'ect of the invention is to provide a fuel control operablein synchronism with a given machine to effect the discharge of fuel atgiven time intervals.

'A still further, object of the invention is to provide fuel or airinterrupters applicable to fuel or air lines and operable in cooperationWith adamp-making machine to supply ignited fuel intermittently whenrequired.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent as the descriptionproceeds.

In the art of manufacturingincandescent electric lamps, it is necessaryto fuse different glass parts together to produce the structureessential to constitute an incandescent electric lamp. During themanufacture of such lamps, certain of the operations require that gasflames be directed against two or more lamp parts to render'them plasticfor union. Machines for supporting several assembled glass parts to beconsolidated generally comprise a conveyor in which the several partsare secured in holders spaced along the periphery of the conveyor. Anoperator assembles the parts at a loading position and the same aremove'd'from station to. station for the various operations, such as theapplication of heat, mechanical pressure, etc.

It will be appreciated that when several I assembled glass parts havebeen heatedat I one stage and are moved to another position,

'there occurs an interim during which no heatis' required because thereis no object in the path of the fires. Ordinarily, the gas flames whichheat the parts continue, and during this period, a relatively .-'largeproportion of fuel is consumed unnecessarily.

- The present inventionprovides for the saving of fuel duringtransportation of lamp parts from one position to another. The -in-'vention may be practiced by providing a casing having a receivingchamber and an outlet chamber controlled by a valve. One

such mechanism may be--placed in the fuel line and another in the airline and both may be in communication with a mixer chamber. Mechanismmay be provided intermediate the valves and a lamp-making machine tocooperate therewith for actuating the valves at predetermined intervalsin accordance with the transportation of a lamp part during the processof construction. The

' valves which may be termed interrupters are,

therefore, applicable to fuel and air lines of a lamp-making or othermachine where an interrupted ignited fuel jet is desired.

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to theaccompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of anembodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the device shown in Fig. 1 andillustrates the valve open;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 111-4111 in Fig. 1;

or other machine. As shown, the casing is secured by a split collar 8fastened to a bracket 9 which may be attached in any desirable manner tothe stationary structure of the machine to which the present device isto be applied.

The casing 7 may be provided with an inlet chamber 11 and an outletchamber 12 having a threaded aperture 13. The chambers may be separatedby a partition 14 provided with a valve seat 15 to receive a valve 16,the valve 16 being provided with a stem 17 movable in a guide bearing 18centrally disposed within the casing 7 and secured thereto in atransverse wall 19. The wall 19:

in conjunction with the guide 18, separates the inlet chamberll from acompartment 21 at the lower end of thecasing 7 The stem 17 which isslidably disposed in the guide llO 18 extends-through the compartment 21and is provided with an enlargement 22 movable in a guide ring 23 whichserves as a closure for and is secured to the lower end of thecompartment 21. The stem 17 terminates in a rounded portion 24 which maybe disposed in contact with a bearing plate 25 carried on a lever arm26. The lever arm may, in turn, be pivoted at 27 in a bearing 28 securedto the bracket 9. The free end of the lever 26 may be provided with aroller 29 disposed to engage with a camwheel 31 having a cam rise 32.The stem is normally urged to engagement with the bearing plate 24 underthe action of a spring 33 disposed upon the stem between a collar 34secured thereto and the guide ring 23.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that when the cam wheel 31 isrotated, the roller 29 on the lever arm will traverse the cam and engagethe rise 32 and a consequent lift of the valve 16 from its seatwillresult.

Gas or air is permitted to enter the receiving chamber through an inlet35 and is retained in the chamber until the valve 16 is lifted and indevices of this sort, it is desirable to provide a durable and effectivemeans for preventing any gas leakage.

The present invention, therefore, includes a flexible sleeve 36 ofrubber or suitable material which may be slipped over the valve stem sothat one end of the sleeve tightly grips the lower end of the guide 18and the opposite end of the sleeve tightly grips the enlarged portion 22of the stem and abuts against a flange 20 which may be integral with theportion 22. This sleeve efl'ectively encloses the onl communicatingpassage between the cham er 11 and the atmosphere.

Where a movable rod is employed, as in the present invention, it is, ofcourse, impossible to attain a sliding movement and keep a gas tightassociation between a slide rod and its bearing. The sleeve 36, however,provides a seal and at the same time allows for the necessary movementof the stem as shown in Fig. 2, causing the sleeve to slightly bucklebut not disturbing its intimate contact to provide a seal.

-It is well known that fuel systems employ means for conductin twomediums, such as a. gaseous fuel and am These two elements are passed toa mixing chamber suitably con-v structed to mix-the same for dischargein a highly combustive state. The present device may be used for theinterruption of either the gas or the air if desired but is generallyplaced in both lines. In either case, however, the chamber 11 isprovided with a by pass 37 for the passage of a regulated amount ofeither .gas or air to continually enter the 'mixer forthe maintenance ofa'pilot light.

which is necessarily employed. -The by-pass 37 may be of a g1veneffective area or a set screw 38 or other adjusting. means may beprovided for inward or outward movement to regulate the area.

As an example of the use of the present device, attention is called toFig. 5 which shows the casings 7 connected by pipe lines 39 and 41 to amixing chamber 42 of any suitable type which in turn, has an outlet 43from which flame 40 issues to heat work parts.

The present invention is, of course, applicable for use in connectionwith various styles of machines but is of particular advantage whenemployed as part of a lamp-making machine, as, for example, oneincluding a rotary carrier 44 (see Fig. 6) having a plurality of heads45 mounted at the periphery thereof to hold work parts 46 such as a lampmount and bulb. The conveyor may be movable about a hub 47 and rotatableby suitable mechanism 48 which may include a belt and pulley to effectan intermittent actuation of the conveyor in the manner common to thisclass of machines. I

As indicated, gas flames 40 may be positioned at the various stages,such flames being provided by connections such as 43 (Fig. 5) to themixer 42 and controlled by the check valves as shown in the embodimentof the present invention.

When applied to a machine to control the flow of mixed gases, twodevices are employed as shown in Fig. 5 and a lever arm 26 is associatedwith each device to engage with a cam of suitable width or withindividual cams operable in timed relation with the certain structuralparts carried by the conveyor of the machine, thereby avoiding thedisadvantage of heating portions of the machine unnecessarily. p

A device of the character such as shown and'described herein is of greateconomic value in connection with machines which run continually sincethe intermittent action of the flame results in an appreciable saving.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and describedherein, it is to be understood that modifications may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as setforth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A fuel control device comprising a tubular member, a partitiondividing said member to provide an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber,a valve seat in said partition, a valve stem within said member, a valvehead on said stem for engagement with said valve seat, means fornormally maintaining said head in contact with said seat, means for Isaid stem extending from said inlet chamber means surrounding an end ofsaid guide and a portion of said stem for sealing said inlet chamberfrom the atmosphere.-

2. A fuel control device comprisinga tubular member, a partitiondividing said member to provide an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber,a valve seat in. said partition, a valve stem within said'member, avalve head onsaid stem for engagement with said valve seat, means fornormally maintaining said head in contact with said seat, means forautomatically lifting said head, a guide for said stem extending fromsaid inlet chamber and a flexible member engaging an end of said guideand a portion of said stem to seal said inlet chamber from theatmosphere.

3. A fuel control device comprising a tubula'r member, .a partitiondividing said member to provide an inlet chamber andan outlet 3 chamber,a valve seat in said partition, a valve stem within said member, avalve'head on said stem for engagement'with said valve seat, means fornormally maintaining said head in contact with said seat, a guide forsaid stem'extending from said inlet chamber, flexible means surroundingan end of said guide and a portion of said stem for sealing said inletchamber from the atmosphere and means for automatically reciprocatingsaid stem.

4. A fuel control device comprising a tubular member, a partitiondividing said member to provide an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber,said partition having a passage affording communication between saidchambers, a valve seat in said partition, a valve stem Within saidmember, a valve head on said stem for engagement with said valve seat,means for normally maintaining said head in contact with said seat,means for automatically lifting said head, a guide for said stemextending from said inlet chamber and a flexible member surrounding anend of said guide and a portion of said stem to seal said inlet chamberfrom the atmosphere.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed'my name this 31st dayof October, 1924:. p

' JOHN JOSEPH HIGGINS.

